Sabres’ Konsta Helenius joins Finland for 2026 World Championship

A young and rising prospect is set to represent his country once again.

On Tuesday, the Finnish Ice Hockey Association announced that Buffalo Sabres forward Konsta Helenius will join the men’s national team roster for the remainder of the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship.

Helenius became available to join Finland after the Sabres were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The team lost to the Montreal Canadiens in a heartbreaking Game 7 loss on Monday night. He rounds out the 25-man roster for the prestigious tournament, as Anaheim Ducks forward Mikael Granlund is set to join the team this week as well.

Finland’s general manager, Jere Lehtinen, states that Helenius is expected to travel to Zurich on Thursday. He notes how Helenius could provide some depth on a roster hoping to play for gold in Switzerland.

“Helenius is a versatile and intelligent player,” Lehtinen said in a release. “In Buffalo, he has shown his ability in tight spots and I know that he has plenty of desire to play.”

This will be the 20-year-old’s second appearance at the Men’s Worlds, as he was on the 2024 team, posting an assist in four games. He’s represented Suomi on several occasions, including the 2022 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge, where he won the bronze medal, two IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championships and a pair of IIHF World Junior Championships, taking home the silver medal in the 2025 event.

Helenius appeared in nine regular-season games with the Sabres this year, scoring a goal and four points. He returned to the team in the postseason, scoring twice in four games. With Buffalo’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Rochester Americans, he scored 21 goals and 42 assists for 63 points in 63 regular-season contests, with three points in three Calder Cup Playoff games.